CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Officials announced this week that more than $1.4 million has been awarded by the state for safety upgrades in the Clarksville-Montgomery County School District.
The monies are a portion of approximately $35 million in budget funding — $25 million in one-time funding and $10 million in recurring grants — approved during the 2018 legislative session.
Dollar amounts were awarded based upon each district’s relative share of the Basic Education Program (BEP) — the formula through which state education dollars are generated and distributed to our schools.
Each school system submitted funding requests for specific safety needs identified in a recent security review of school facilities conducted by school officials and local law enforcement.
Specifically, Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools will receive $1,412,956 ($491,926 in recurring funding, $921,030 in non-recurring monies) to be used for improvements to access and perimeter control, as well as upgrades in communication.
“I was honored to fight for this funding to support critical safety improvements within our academic institutions in order to better protect our current and future generations of students,” Representative Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville) said in a press release. “I want to thank our local school leaders and members of our law enforcement communities for their partnership and thoughtful review, assessment, and application for these vital resources. We must ensure safe learning environments for our future leaders so they can focus all of their efforts and energy on learning.”
All 147 school districts in Tennessee received a portion of school safety funding.